Niles bridge replacement discussed

BY JORDAN COHEN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NILES — It makes more sense to replace rather than repair the closed Olive Street Bridge, according to the deputy Trumbull County engineer.

The two-lane bridge connects the city to the village of McDonald. It has been closed due to deficiencies since last October.

John Picuri told council Wednesday that replacement costs for the span would amount to $5 million, but a new bridge would have an 80-year lifespan

“The cost to just repair would be $4 million, but [the repairs] would have only a 20-year lifespan,” Picuri said. “We think it makes more sense to replace it for that reason.”

Picuri said designs for bridge replacement take longer to develop, and he estimated that construction would begin by “2013 — worst case.” The deputy engineer said the county has secured $2.5 million in federal funds for the bridge and is hoping to find other funding sources.

In another major project, council authorized the city to contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction of the Lawnview Sanitary Sewer Overflow Detention Basin at a cost of $3.2 million. The federal government is providing half of the funding but Charles Nader, city auditor, said the balance of $1.6 million most likely will have to be paid from the city’s sewer funds. Nader said he did not have the status of the fund immediately available.

The basin will be located near Mosquito Creek and North Road. Construction is expected to begin in May.

Funding was not an issue for another project approved by council Wednesday as the city has received $250,000 in federal stimulus funds for repairs to nearly three miles of U.S. Route 422.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ralph Infante said he expects the vacant at-large seat on city council to be filled on Feb. 17. Thomas Scarnecchia, who held one of the three at-large seats for nearly 15 years, resigned last month due to health reasons. Infante, who is vice chairman of the Trumbull County Democratic Party, said the precinct committeemen and -women will begin accepting applications for the position this week.